Ba Duc Ancient House, a famous Dong Thap tourist destination, promises to offer you a completely different perspective on architecture, a gentle and luxurious blend of Vietnamese and French cultural styles. Visiting the house, visitors feel as if they have “traveled” to the last century, admiring the architectural features and appliances often seen only in movies.
Following a story of Mr. Phan Quang Nhut – the eldest son of Mr. Phan Van Duc, Ba Duc Ancient House was built in 1850 by Mr. Phan Van Dang, located on a small road, adjacent to the riverbank. In 1938, Mr. Phan Van Cuong had it restored and repaired. By holding a position on the Committee, Mr. Cuong had the opportunity to interact with French officials and absorb the essence of Western architecture.
Later, the house was decorated in a combined East-West architectural style, “exotic exterior and traditional interior”, with a combination of novel Western elements but the rustic feeling of a Vietnamese wooden interior.
Ba Duc ancient house is divided into 2 parts: the upper house and the lower house, separated by a skylight that provides light and warms the entire space.
Although it possesses an ancient Eastern style, the house does not convey a sense of weakness; on the contrary, it is very solid, with a structure of 4 large cylindrical wooden columns placed right in the middle of the house.
The mother-of-pearl inlaid tureen not only serves well as living furniture but also adds a very seductive beauty to the house. The four wooden pillars also bore a Confucian couplet, reminding children and grandchildren of the importance of upholding moral integrity.
The surrounding wall is decorated with 9 European-style paintings depicting the 9 tributaries of the Mekong River, a river central to the lives of people in the Southwest region.
In addition, this place preserves antiques from the Nguyen Dynasty and the French colonial period, such as 3 sets of mother-of-pearl altar cabinets dating to around the 20th century, French lamps, Nguyen Dynasty ceramic vases decorated with elaborate patterns, etc.
Especially in the main room, there is a wooden box engraved with 4 faces of a dragon and a lion, containing the deity conferred by the reigns of Kings Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, and Tu Duc to Dong Hoa Hiep village.
In the past, if you came to Ba Duc Ancient House, you could only rest on precious wooden horse planks, but now the owner has built 16 more fully equipped rooms (each with 2 beds). Enough amenities for those coming from far away to stay in this ancient house.
Useful information about Ba Duc Ancient House
- Address: No 155, An Loi Hamlet, Cai Be Commune.
- Tourist spots nearby: Vinh Trang Pagoda, Thoi Son Islet, Cai Be Floating Market, Mr. Kiet Ancient House, Cai Be Church, Thoi Son Islet…
Source: collected by An
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